Hopper outlet construction with seal between hopper and gate

ABSTRACT

A railway car hopper outlet has downwardly inclined side and end walls defining a discharge opening that is closed by a sliding gate having upturned sides and one upturned end underlying the lower margins of the side and one end wall of the hopper. A generally V-shaped resilient metallic sealing strip is interposed between the juxtaposed surfaces of the hopper walls and the upturned sides and end of the gate with one branch being secured to the hopper walls and the other branch engaging the sides and end of the gate under pressure applied from the interior or the car.

United States Patent [72] Inventor William E. Frltz lllnsdlle, Ill.

[21] Appl. No. 20,939

[22] Filed Mar. 19, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee The Youngstown Steel Door Company Cleveland, Ohio [54] HOPPER OUTLET CONSTRUCTION WITH SEAL 2,247,435 7/1941 Cerny 49/496 X 2,756,468 7/1956 Bright... 49/496 X 3,097,612 7/1963 Dorey... 105/282 A 3,509,828 5/1970 Fritz 105/282 R Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King Attorney-Robert R. Lockwood ABSTRACT: A railway car hopper outlet has downwardly inclined side and end walls defining a discharge opening that is closed by a sliding gate having upturned sides and one upturned end underlying the lower margins of the side and one end wall of the hopper. A generally V-shaped resilient metallic sealing strip is interposed between the juxtaposed surfaces of the hopper walls and the upturned sides and end of the gate [56] Rdflm cited with one branch being secured to the hopper walls and the UNITED STATES PATENTS other branch engaging the sides and end of the gate under 2,158,808 5/1939 Wetz el pressure applied from the interior or the car.

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9J1 I y I i i' u as JO 2,! \J! 73 U Patented Dec. 14, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet l sufiicient lading has been retained on the gate to close off the leakage space.

In order to supply air to permit operation of diesel locomotives as in some relatively long tunnels, it is customary to pressurize such tunnels. when cars containing fluidized lading are drawn through these tunnels, their interiors become pressurized and retain the pressure on emerging from the tunnel. This pressure serves to discharge some of the lading through the leakage space between the hoppers and the gates thereof to such an extent that the discharge lading must be removed periodically from the roadbed. Also this constitutes a waste of such lading.

Accordingly, among the objects of this invention are: to provide for sealing the space between a discharge hopper and a closing gate therefor to prevent escape of fluidized lading; to employ for this purpose sealing means the sealing action of which is increased as a function of the fluid pressure in the discharge hopper; to interpose a Vshaped resilient metallic sealing strip in the space between the discharge hopper and the gate with the opening between the branches of the sealing strip being toward the interior of the hopper and one of the branches being secured to the hopper while the other engages the gate; to mount the sealing strip on a furring strip to facilitate its application to the hopper.

in the drawings FIG. 1 is a top view of a portion of a hopper outlet construction in which this invention is embodied, the gate being shown in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and shows the gate in closed position.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 1 and shows both sides of the hopper outlet construction.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and shows an alternate mounting for the rollers secured to the gate.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, at an enlarged scale, showing the details of construction of the sealing means embodying this invention.

In the drawings the reference character designates, generally, a hopper outlet for a railway car or the like. The hopper outlet 10 is provided with a horizontal marginal flange 11 for securing it to the underside of the railway car. The hopper outlet 10 is provided with inclined sidewalls l2 and 13 and with inclined end walls 14 and 15 which define a discharge opening 16 through which lading in the card is discharged downwardly through a discharge chute that is indicated, generally at 17. The discharge chute 17 includes sidewalls l8 and 19 and end walls 20 and 21. A slot 22 between the lower margin of the end wall 15 and the discharge chute end wall 2] permits movement therethrough of a gate that is indicated, generally, at 23. The gate 23 has a flat bottom 24, upturned sides 26 and 27 underlying the lower margins of the inclined side walls 12 and 13 and an upturned end 29 underlying the lower margin of the end wall 15.

As shown in FIG. 3 the discharge chute sidewalls l8 and 19 include upwardly inclined sections 30 and 31 which are welded at 32 and 33 to the undersides of the sidewalls 12 and 13. The discharge chute sidewalls l8 and 19 also include downwardly inclined sections 34 and 35 to which horizontal sections 36 and 37 are secured, as by welding, to provide for attachment of a conveyor chute.

The gate 23 is mounted for horizontal movement underneath the discharge opening 16. For this purpose U-shaped bearing brackets 38 and 39 are suitably secured to the undersides of the upturned sides 26 and 27 of the gate 23 for receiving bearing pins 40 and 41 on which rollers 42 and 43 are mounted. It will be noted that the rollers 42 and 43 are arranged to engage the upper sides of the sections 34 and 35 of the discharge chute sidewalls i8 and 19. Additional guiding and support means are provided for the gate 23. As shown in FIG. 4 a stub shaft 44 is secured to the underside of the upturned side 26 of the gate 23 and a roller 45 is mounted thereon for engaging the underside of the upwardly inclined section 30 of the discharge chute 17. It will be understood that a similar construction is provided on the other side of the gate 23.

As shown in FIG. 2 the discharge chute end wall 20 includes an angle having a vertical flange 66 that is welded at 47 to the underside of the inclined hopper end wall 14. it also includes a horizontal flange 48 which, like the horizontal sections 36 and 37, is provided for attachment to a conveyor chute. The inner side of the vertical flange 46 is provided with bearing brackets one of which is indicated at 49. The bearing bracket 49 is of U-shape and carries a bearing pin 50 on which a roller 51 is mounted for underlying the leading end 52 of the gate 23 when it is in the closed position shown in FIG. 2.

In order to provide a seal between the edge of the leading end 52 of the gate 23 a gasket 53 of compressible material, such as closed cell sponge neoprene, in employed. The gasket 53 is mounted in a metallic channel 54 that is suitably secured to the inner side of the vertical flange 46.

The discharge chute end wall 21, as shown in FIG. 2, includes an inverted generally U-shaped channel 55 which extends between the discharge chute sidewalls 18 and 19. Its inner branch 56 forms generally a continuation of the downwardly inclined end wall 15. Underneath it an angle 57 is secured having a horizontal flange 58 for receiving a part of the conveyor chute. The outer branch 59 of the channel 55 caries U-shaped bearing brackets 60, only one being shown. The bearing bracket 60 has a bearing pin 61 extending through its branches on which a roller 62 is mounted for engaging the underside of the flat bottom 24 of the gate 23 when it is being moved from and to the closed position.

Additional support is provided for the gate 23. For this purpose a support 63 extends centrally of the gate 23 between the discharge chute end walls 20 and 21. The support 63 carries a U-shaped bearing bracket 64, FIG. I, which has a bearing pin 65 extending transversely of its branches for pivotally mounting a roller 66 that is arranged to bear against the under side of the flat bottom 24 of the gate 23. v

Any suitable means can be employed for shifting the gate 23 between the closed and the open positions. For this purpose operating linkages, indicated generally at 67 in FIGS. 1 and 2, can be employed. Lugs 63 are welded at 69 to the lower margin of the upstanding end 29 of the gate 23 for connection to one end of the linkages 67. The other ends of the linkages are pivoted to a transverse channel 70 which extends between extensions 72 and 73 of the discharge chute sidewalls l8 and 19. Links 74 are pivoted on pivot pins 75, FIG. 2, to the lugs 68. At their other ends the links 74 are pivotally connected by an arm 76 of a locking member, indicated generally at 77, to one end of a crank arm 78 that is pivoted at 79 on the transverse channel 70.. Gear sections 80 are formed on the crank arms 78 to effect conjoint movement thereof for operating the linkages 67 when a bar is inserted in one of the operating bar receiving sockets 81 that are formed in the crank arm 78.

The construction thus far described is generally the same as that disclosed in the application above referred to. It has been found that the sealing means between the gate 23 and the hopper side and end walls l2, l3 and 15 has not been adequate, particularly when fluidized lading is to be transported. in accordance with this invention sealing means, indicated generally at 83 is employed the sealing action of which is a function of the pressure within the hopper outlet 10. The sealing means 83 in conjunction with the compressible gasket 53 at the leading end 52 of the gate 23 provide an adequate seal which reduces to a minimum the loss of lading from the railway car.

The sealing means 83 comprises generally V-shaped sealing strips of relatively thin metal, such as stainless steel, and indicated at 84, 85 and 86 between the under sides of the lower margins of the inclined sidewalls l2 and 13 and of the inclined end wall 15. One branch 87, 88 and 89 of each of the sealing strips 84, 85 and 86 is secured to furring strips 90, 91 and 92, respectively, by spot welding as indicated at 93. The assemblies then are secured by spot'welding, indicated at 94, to the respective lower margins of the inclined sidewalls 12 and 13 and of the end wall 15. The-reason for this method of assembly is to facilitate the application of the V-shaped sealing strips to the hopper walls. The furring strips, being of relatively heavy cross section metal can readily be welded to the hopper walls while the branches 87, 88 and 89 of the sealing strips can be more readily secured to the furring strips prior to installation.

It will be observed that the apex 95 of each of the sealing strips is located away from the discharge opening 16 of the hopper outlet and that the opening 96 between the branches 87, 88 and 89 and the other branches 97, 98 and 99 of the sealing strips 84, 85 and 86 is toward the discharge opening 16. The margins of the other branches 97, 98 and 99 are arranged to bear against the juxtaposed upwardly facing surfaces of the upturned sides 26, upturned and 29 of the gate 23 with the pressure exerted being a function of the pressure inside the hopper 10. Thus, as the pressure increases the margins of the branches 97, 98 and 99 bear with increasing force against the juxtaposed surfaces of the gate 23 and thus provide an increased sealing effect.

As shown in FIG. 5 and also illustrated in FIG. 1 the junctions between the V-shaped sealing strips 84, 85 and 86 are mitered as indicated at 1-00. This construction completes the seal between the gate 23 and the hopper walls while permitting free movement of the gate 23 to and from the closed position.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A discharge outlet assembly comprising:

a hopper having downwardly inclined side and end walls defining a horizontal discharge opening,

a discharge chute secured to said hopper and extending below said discharge opening,

a horizontal gate for closing said discharge opening and having upturned sides and one upturned end underlying the lower portions of said sidewalls and one end wall of said hopper,

means mounting said gate on said discharge chute for movement underneath said discharge opening, and

sealing means between the juxtaposed surface of said sidewalls and said one end wall of said hopper and said underlying upturned sides and one upturned end of said gate and responsive to fluid pressure in said hopper for controlling the sealing action of said sealing means as a function of said fluid pressure,

2. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim I wherein said sealing means comprises generally V-shaped sealing strip means positioned between the juxtaposed surfaces of said sidewalls and said one end wall of said hopper and said underlying branch of said V-shaped sealing strip means being secured. to one of said juxtaposed surfaces and the other branch engaging the other of said juxtaposed surfaces in the closed position of said gate.

3. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 2 wherein said V-shaped sealing strip means is formed of resilient relatively thin and flexible metal.

4. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 2 wherein the opening between the branches of said V-shaped resilient metallic sealing strip means is toward said discharge opening and the apex thereof is away therefrom whereby fluid pressure in said hopper increases the sealing engagement of said other branch with the surface juxtaposed thereto.

5. The discharged outlet assembly according to claim 2 wherein said one branch of said V-shaped resilient metallic sealing strip means is secured to the outer surfaces of said sidewalls and said one end wall of said hopper and along the lower margins thereof.

The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 2 wherein said branch of said V-shaped resilient metallic sealing strip is secured to a furring strip which is secured to said one surface.

8 l 8 II I 

1. A discharge outlet assembly comprising: a hopper having downwardly inclined side and end walls defining a horizontal discharge opening, a discharge chute secured to said hopper and extending below said discharge opening, a horizontal gate for closing said discharge opening and having upturned sides and one upturned end underlying the lower portions of said sidewalls and one end wall of said hopper, means mounting said gate on said discharge chute for movement underneath said discharge opening, and sealing means between the juxtaposed surface of said sidewalls and said one end wall of said hopper and said underlying upturned sides and one upturned end of said gate and responsive to fluid pressure in said hopper for controlling the sealing action of said sealing means as a function of said fluid pressure,
 2. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprises generally V-shaped sealing strip means positioned between the juxtaposed surfaces of said sidewalls and said one end wall of said hopper and said underlying upturned sides and one upturned end of said gate with one branch of said V-shaped sealing strip means being secured to one of said juxtaposed surfaces and the other branch engaging the other of said juxtaposed surfaces in the closed position of said gate.
 3. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 2 wherein said V-shaped sealing strip means is formed of resilient relatively thin and flexible metal.
 4. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 2 wherein the opening between the branches of said V-shaped resilient metallic sealing strip means is toward said discharge opening and the apex thereof is away therefrom whereby fluid pressure in said hopper increases the sealing engagement of said other branch with the surface juxtaposed thereto.
 5. The discharged outlet assembly according to claim 2 wherein said one branch of said V-shaped resilient metallic sealing strip means is secured to the outer surfaces of said sidewalls and said one end wall of said hopper and along the lower margins thereof.
 6. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 2 wherein said one branch of said V-shaped resilient metallic sealing strip is secured to a furring strip which is secured to said one surface. 